This fixture put Wolves in a tough position.
Circumstances dictated they could only request postponement on Monday after all the international call-ups had been made.
With several thousand supporters (including myself) already having bought tickets, the powers that be had a decision to make.
Play the game without key players or risk the wrath of supporters by cancelling at short notice.
Personally, I think they made the right call, but anything other than victory over the league’s bottom club will no doubt raise debate.
Notts County
Victory at Molineux in the JPT a month ago wasn’t enough to keep Chris Kiwomya in a job. Shaun Derry has taken over in a player-manager capacity and tomorrow marks his first home game.
In that sense, it’s terrible timing. Not only are we missing the influence and experience of players like Doyle and Ricketts, but we must also contend with the extra bounce a new manager brings to the table.
All three of County’s wins this season have come at Meadow Lane and crucical victories they were too against fellow stragglers Crewe, Tranmere and Oldham. Without those results they’d be completely cut adrift.
Sean Derry, like Kenny Jackett, must utilise his squad for this one because they also have players away on international duty, as well as suspensions and injuries.
Wolves
There are so many things Kenny Jackett could do with the team tomorrow. With Ricketts out, there’s some shuffling to be done at the back. Kevin McDonald could return to the midfield, so any combination in there is also possible. We also welcome Michael Jacobs to the fold.
KJ has a choice between Foley, Elokobi or Ebanks-Landell. I suspect he’ll go for experience over youth with two senior players already missing. I might be wrong.
If McDonald is fit, I’d play him. Could be any of Price, Davis or Evans alongside him. Dave Edwards played in a more advanced midfield role against Oldham, so maybe KJ will consider sticking with him too at the expense of a striker?
It will be an interesting team selection whatever happens and a few players will get a chance to stake their claims for greater first team opportunities.
The odds
No surprise to see that Wolves are big favourites for this one, with odds of 3/4. The draw is 29/10 and County are 4/1.
It’s probably about time Danny Batth got on the end of something and if you fancy him as first goalscorer, a generous 25/1 is on offer.
All odds are available to view here.
Predictions
Slim pickings in the PL after drawing at Carlisle. Everyone had Wolves down for the win, aside from three visionaries.
Well done to Chris in Dublin, who predicted 2-2 for maximum points. Ash K and Number 9 also plumped for a draw, but it’s only a single for them.
Wolves should still win this tomorrow, regardless of the names missing. I suspect it won’t be easy, but I think we’ll just about scrape it.
2-1.
Up The Wolves
Well living in Nottingham , its a real treat to have a `home ` game to go to.
I agree the new manager at Notts will probably have his boots on tomorrow, and the opposition will be very fired up for this game. However they are bottom of the table for a reason, and I can`t believe Mr Jackett won`t have his side ready too. I expect a winning performance, a real battle for the three points, but a 3-1 win will do nicely.
I’m a bit worried this could be a potential banana skin, but I’ll opt for a 2-2 draw.
County lost to Oldham 5-1 in Derry’s first game.
All I can say is that I expect us to win this game without much trouble.
We’re playing at Meadow Lane, but like you said, they’re bottom for a reason.
4-0 to Wolves!
0:3to the wolves hopefully Preston beat the orient too
I’ve got a bad feeling about this one, but can’t bring myself to predict a defeat, so I’ll go for a 1-1 draw.
It’s not so much the opposition’s rich vein of form, but some memories of Meadow Lane.
The ground is responsible for my irrationally nervous disposition whenever the Radio WM goal hooter goes off.
Shane Westley put us 1-0 up there donkeys years ago and they scored at about 5pm, when the Grandstand videoprinter was being switched off, cue the goal horn in the days when there wasn’t any commentary. I shudder at the noise today, 20 odd years later.
Also, I remember Neil Warnock instructing his players to break Bully’s legs from the touchline in a game there. (Might have been the same one)
I can’t remember us winning at Notts Co, although Thomas reminded me that we did once, when Super Guy the Soldier ran half the length of the field to score the winner, when he was in that purple patch as a loan star.
Surely we have a strong enough squad to beat the side at the bottom of the third division. If we don’t then God help us.
Notts Co 1 Wolves 3
We will definitely miss Ricketts & Doyle but County are missing key players too with call ups and suspensions so our weakened side should really beat their weakened side.
If fit I would go for Foley ahead of Ebanks-Landell or Elokobi. The centre of midfield is still a puzzle to me as I have no idea what the best combination is (and neither does Jackett by the looks of it!) but it’s good to have McDonald available for selection again although I would be tempted to start him on the bench for his first game back. Upfront I’d really like to see Sigurdarson get a chance but can’t help feeling Edwards might play in a 4-5-1 formation.
Notts County 1 – Wolves 2
UTW
I think victory 4-0 to the almighty Wolves.
Notts County 2 4 wolves
Surely we cannot slip here. I think we will settle for a 2-0 win then just hold them at bay. Griff and Sako for scorers.
There are two ways this can go:
1. We prove our strength in depth and run out comfortable winners.
2. We show how dependent we are on two or three key players and Griffiths is left totally isolated while Sigurdarson runs about like a headless chicken.
I am going to hope for the former.
I disagree with the assertion that it could be any from Price, Davis or Evans. My choice would always be Price as Davis is too anonymous and Evans too wasteful.
Notts County 0-3 Wolves
Should be 3 points, will be 3 points, has to be 3 points. We are the bollocks at the moment, we are the team, we are not losing we are going to win 0-2
Peace & Love to all.
County 1 – 4 Wolves. Hopefully an easy win against a struggling side. But these are the typical games we have looked back on at the end of the season wondering how we didn’t win. Not this time.
A bit of a worry Jacobs is a spit of James Henry. Let’s hope he performs in similar fashion.
1 – 3 Wolves
Notts County 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3
Going to stick with good form and predict a 2-1 win for Wolves!
Notts County 0 – Wolves 1
Your team looks good to me Thomas.
The only position I might change is Edwards for Siggy.
I know he was wasteful last week but it was good to see a midfielder running straight at the defence with a bit of pace and power. If he can replicate that and remember where the goal is I think we could run out quite comfortable winners.
2-0 to the Wolves
I can’t help but feel positive about this game. Surely Wolves will be too much for Notts County. Wolves to win 3 – 0.
I would like to think this will be an easy win for us but with a new manager & something to prove anything can happen. Nevertheless we should have enough in hand to do the job!
Notts County 0 – 2 Wolves
County will be fired up…but I expect us to win…Wolves 2 – 1 county …UTW..
3-1 victory for us!
Aside from four goals against Gillingham we can’t seem to finish off the weaker teams as emphatically as we should. That said I’ll be satisfied with a tight win at Notts County, 0-1 or 1-2. Presumably we can only get better! I wouldn’t be too worried about the ‘new manager effect’ at Notts Co. We never had much ‘new manager effect’ under our last three new Wolves’ managers!
I’ll be there tomorrow expecting Wolves to try to dominate the game with an early goal and then make Notts County work hard to get possession after that. The new manager effect I feel does not always mean success as new ways of playing take time to bed in. We should win this with the squad Kenny has available to him, regardless of our absentees. Jacobs could make the difference. Wolves 3-0 if we pick the right players in midfield.
A little worried about this one I have to say. In Kenny we trust however, and I am sure he has made the right decision.
We should still have enough quality to beet the Magpies.
Wolves 3 Notts County 1
Notts Co. 0-2 Wolves
1-0 win to wolves a tough scrappy game but the young lads do enough to edge it
2-1 to the Wolves. Come om me babbies!!
Notts 0 – 1 Wolves
We should win this one,but just hope it doesn’t come back to bite KJ on the arse.
Hope O’Hara gets to start,can’t understand why he ‘s sending Forde,Zeli out on loan when he talks about playing young guns then gets loan players in who go straight into the side, whats that saying to the young player’s….2-0 to the wolves.UTW.
As with Ben, Ive got a bad feeling about this one too, especially the loss of Doyle, we are not the same without him and Griffiths struggles when he is not in the side.
Hoping we win 1-0 to the WOLVES.
County 0 – Wolves 3
Notts County 0 Wolves 0. The rot starts here.
County 0 – 2 Wolves for me please
Should have enough but i think it will be close 2-1 wolves
Can’t see anyone who’s predicted a defeat do far… and I’m not going to be the first. A juicy 1-4 win for me please.
Forde scored a great goal for the Ireland U21s tonight by all accounts. He’s obviously got ability in there somewhere! Hope we can bring it out of him.
1-0 to the Wolves! Can see this one being a bit tricky.
County were the better side by a country mile in the JPT and even though they are bottom this is no pushover game. That said, these games test the strength of a team’s character and we have to be at it right from the start. Sako is the class act on show tomorrow and he gets the goal that gives us all 3 points.
Notts County 0 – Wolves 1
Been a bit of the boil recently my guesses. 2-0 Wolves, I think we’ll get away with the international call-ups given the low position of Notts.
Notts Cty 0 Wolves 3
Got to win this one.
2-0 to the mighty Wolves. Griffiths brace.
It’s gonna be a tight one
County 2-3 Wolves
I hope Wolves play with more quality than pathetic England, it wouldn’t be hard.
Notts County 1 Wolves 2
I hope Wolves play with more quality than pathetic England, it wouldn’t be hard.
Notts County 1 Wolves 2
Siggy has a good chance to shine with Doyle out. I expect him to do the business.
County 1 Wolves 4, Sig * 2, Sako and Griffiths.
Notts County 1 – 2 Wolves
Long may it continue
UTW
County 0-3 Wolves
County 1 Wolves 2.
Expecting a mini exodus in January. Sako, O’Useless and Henners.
Find it quite hilarious that third division sides have international absentees.
There is no chance of a loss tomorrow, I would bet Doogooders next paycheck on a win for us.
Notts (why not Nottingham?) County 1 Wolves 5
Funny you should say that. I watched the England Chile International last night and the entire England team looked like third division players.
And leave my paycheck alone!
Anyway, being self employed, I haven’t decided whether I deserve any pay this month yet.
One day your 5-1 prediction will come true Clive.
And as regards betting DOOGooders wages……….doesn’t Mrs DOOGooder have that anyway?
Must be a resounding win for wolves
Notts County 0 Wolves 3
2-0 to the Wolves.
0-1 will do nicely. @keefy_
Agree with the blog in that there are banana skins to be trodden on here. So I will buck the trend and predict a draw.
NC 1-1 Wolves
Weakened defence without Ricketts, uncertain midfield (all season), weakened attack without Doyle. We may not have enough guile to find our way through this one: NC 1 – Wolves 1.
2-1 Wolves Win!
County 1-2 Wolves
It will be interesting to see what side he picks as we like to tinker around especially with midfield. I would go for Foley at RB and I think he may opt for Edwards rather than Siggy.
I would also opt for Price as I’m not convinced yet by Evans and Davis will always make a few passes that put us into trouble
Notts C 0-2 Wolves
A test of depth – Notts County 2 Wolves 4 I think.
I’ll go for a 2-0 wolves win it will be my first away game of this season come on you wolves
Definitely the right call for the game to go ahead. KJ was right when he said it was best to avoid a fixture pile up in December and we should really be able to beat Notts with whatever side we put out. And who wants a Saturday afternoon without a match? I think he’ll go with 451 as be has done a couple of times of late. Despite the new manager, I still strongly fancy us. Notts 1- 4 Wolves
It was my turn on the work’s punters club this week and chucked some cash at a Wolves draw. Olny because the odds were better. But now I feel like I have to stick with it so I’ll go 1-1.
2-1 to Wolves Sako late-ish winner after a having a dreadful game lol..wish I was there it will be a great atmosphere..
Positive vibes here .Notts County 1. Wolves 3.
I think we will be to strong for these and with players also out for them im going 2-0 to us.
On the basis of their performance in the JPT at Molineux, it’s strange to see what has happened to County and Kiwomya. County’s revolving managerial door is better oiled than most though and Shaun Derry already has something of a challenge on his hands in his first home game after two away cup defeats, one very heavy against the team we drew with last week in the FAC (having beaten them at home recently in the league though!). So this could either be their day if he and they have learnt from those defeats. We;re also missing two important bits of glue in the team – Doyle and Ricketts. Having said all that, we should have enough depth and passion still to win comfortably, so more in hope than expectation, I’ll go for County 1 Wolves 3.
Think its going to be tight,but we are good enough to beat them.
1-0 to us.
COME ON YOU WOLVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Has to be a win for me, and comfortable at that.
Notts County 1 – 4 Wolves
UTW
This has the potential to be a great big banana skin, esp after we decided to play with a number of players away on international duty. I sort of understand it, cus County also have some missing and their goalscorer is suspended.
That said, we have options for the missing positions and I expect a comfortable win.
Some issues- who starts full back? central midfield? Upfront with Griffiths? Does O’hara come in?
Notts County 0 Wolves 3
We are simply to good for County. A satisfying 0-3 to us.
Hard game but we should still have enough. 3-2 wolves
1-0 to the wolves for me please Thomas. Fancy Henry to grab another
Suns out , little wind so ,
Notts C 1 Wolves 4 .
I just said to Mrs Telford Wolf, “hand me the laptop, I haven’t put my prediction on yet”.
To which she said: “2-1, you always go for 2-1”
Therefore, not to add to marital disharmony, I will go again for 2-1.
And if the score is different, I can blame the missus.
Wolves 2 County 0 sorry it’s late
Notts C 2-3 wolves
2-1 to the mighty Wolves. I see us barely scrape past this challenge
This one is easy:
Wolves 2 County 1
Missed prediction league but would have gone 1-0 wolves win. Ohara not even on bench 🙂 anybody know where he is? Is he still in bed?
Oh! What giddy heights!
Long live King Kenny and his merry men!
Bring on Brentford.
I’m off to kill a couple of celebratory bottles of Yellow Tail.
I just wish they’d change the name to Old Gold Tail.
The winter period will be challenging as Wolves approach the halfway mark of the league. An in form Brentford next week; tricky ties with MK and Rotherham who will be pushing for top 6; Crewe and Tranmere desparate to get out of the relagation zone and of course, the big 2 gunning for our heads.
We play weekend-midweek-weekend from today for 5 matches like this and another 5 matches from Dec 21, assuming we dont make it in the FA cup against Oldham.
If we are top by a good 7 points by new year after Tranmere’s reverse fixture, I say we are in a decent position to get promoted and hopefully will secure top 2 by the last 6-7 games of the season which could also be a challenge. Theyre are pretty much the reverse fixtures of the above bar Tranmere plus Cov amd Carlisle. A high points total needed indeed.
Although I wouldnt mind 10 up by Christmas! 🙂